Grate.



7 Patented Sept. I6, I902. J. T. VAUGHN.

GRATE.

(Application filed Feb. 25, 1902.)

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UNITED STATES PATENT UEETCE.

JOHN THOMAS VAUGHN, OF GRIFFIN, GEORGIA.

GRATE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 709,377, datedSeptember 16, 1902.

' Application filed February 26, 1902. serial No. 95,510. (No model.)

To an whont it may concern):

Be it known that I, JOHN THOMAS VAUGHN, a citizen of the United States,and a resident of Griffin, in the county of Spalding and State ofGeorgia, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Grates, of whichthe following is a full, clear, and exact description. Myinventionrelates to gratesused in burning fuel. i

The invention consists in the novel construction and combination of theseveral parts, as will be hereinafter fully set forth, and pointed outin the claim.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, formingapart ofthis specification, in which similar characters of reference indicatecorresponding parts in all the figures.

Figure 1 is a front elevation of a fireplace employing my device, Fig.2is a central section at right angles to the view shown in. Fig. 1. Fig.3 is a perspective View of the fuelrack, and Fig. 4 is a perspectiveview of one of the end plates.

The chimney 1 is fitted with lugs 2 adjacent to the ash-pit 3 and usedfor support 1 ing thegrate-basket. The fender comprises arc-shaped bars4 '6, connected by rods 5, and is disposed in front of the ash-pit. Thegrate basket comprises vertical bars 7, horizontal bars 8, bent upwardat their front ends, as indicated inFig. 2, and curved cross-bars 9, ithe lowermost of which connects the front en ds'of the bars 8 integrallytogether. Upon either sideof thefireplace are end plates 10, made ofmetal and provided with slots or fissures 22. These end plates are bentat 19, so as to form corners, and have each the general shape of ahollow wedge. The object of this construction is to enable the endplates ported by means of the lugs 12, 13, 14., and 5o 16, resting uponthe respective front and rear portions of the grate-basket. Thisconstructo present a fiat and mutilated surface obtion renders thefuel-rack substantially parallel with the bottom of the grate-basket andalso provides for an intervening air-space between said fuel-rack andsaid bottom. The lowermost curved cross-bar 9 is provided with aplurality of lugs 15, which converge inwardly toward the fire and whichform an additional support for the fuel-rack. These lugs areparticularly desirable in new grates,

as they can be cast integrally without additional cost.

It will be noted that the fuel-rack is removable from the grate-basket,and thus rendered interchangeable. The end plates rest upon thefuel-rack and are self-adjustable in that the crowding of the fuelforces them into theirnormal positions. The air has no difficulty inpassing upward through the apertures 22 of the hollow end plates, and isthus admitted to the fire at points disposed above the fuel-rack.

The fuelu-aok saves the grate-basket from burning out quickly and isinturn easyto replace at small expense. The end plates are not exposedto the hottest part of the fire and can be made somewhat lighter thanthe other parts, if desired. These end plates, too, can be replaced at acomparatively trivial expense. The fuel-rack can be adjusted and fittedto grates already manufactured, and even to grates already in use, bymerely bringing the lugs of the-fuel-rack into engagement with therespective front and rear bars of the grate-basket. It will beunderstood that the cross-bars of the fuel-rack tend to prevent the samefrom warping when subjected to great heat. When fresh fuel is added tothe fire, the shock or jar generally produced has more or less tendencyto dislodge any ashes that may have accummulated either upon the fuel orupon the fuel-rack, but does not pack the fuel to an excessive degree. I

I find that grates constructed upon the principle above outlined have amarked tendency to prevent smoking and that they render the combustionof the fuel more perfect than would otherwise be the case, thuseffecting a great saving in the expense of fuel and avoiding thevexation due to smoky chimneys. The bottom of the grate-basket can becleared of ashes and cinders Without disturbing either the fuel or thefire.

Having thus described. my invention, I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent- A grate, comprising a grate-basket pro vided withhorizontally-arranged longitudinal bars so disposed as to form asubstantially fiat bottom, and havingupturned ends provided with asubstantially arc-shaped member integrally mounted thereon, a fuelrackprovided with horizontally-arranged longitudinal bars disposed at rightangles to the general direction of the bars of said gratebasket, saidfuel-rack being provided at its front portion with upturned lugs forengaging said arc-shaped member, and provided at its back portion withdepending lugs, each having a length substantially equal to the generaldepth of said grate-basket, and a pair of hollow end plates ofsubstantially wedge shape, mounted upon saidfuel-rack and provided withvertical slots to afford ventilation,

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

JOHN THOMAS VAUGHN. Witnesses:

R. J. EDWARDS, J. H. SMITH.

